National Journal's CongressDaily | November 10, 1999
The United States today swiftly rejected a new European proposal to end U.S. sanctions imposed after the European Union refused to change its policy over banana imports. A U.S. trade official today criticized the European offer, arguing that it failed to address U.S. demands for a package proposal that is consistent with World Trade Organization policy. "It's difficult to see how this is going to resolve the dispute," the official said. He noted that punitive U.S. tariffs on select European goods could remain in effect indefinitely, but acknowledged there is "considerable pressure" to re-examine the issue. The official indicated the European Union has expressed a willingness to talk about the matter. But he complained that the Europeans, in their offer, had ignored a proposal sent to them by Trade Representative Barshefsky late last month.National Journal's CongressDaily:
